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Saturday, April 15, 2006

Week in Review

DoctorZin provides a review of this past week's [4/09/06 - 4/15/06] major news events regarding Iran. (The reports are listed in chronological order, not by importance) READ MORE

Iran's Nuclear Program & The UN Security Council.

Ha'aretzreported that a fire broke out in a forest north of Tehran on Saturday, not far from an area intelligence agencies suspected illegal nuclear activity.

The Financial Times reported that companies doing business in Iran face the prospect of a crackdown on export credits unless Tehran’s co-operation with the United Nations over its nuclear program is improved.

The Jerusalem Post reported that Iran said it was a "big mistake" for the US and its allies to think the UN Security Council will be able to force Teheran to give up uranium enrichment.

Telegraph reported that teams of nuclear experts attached to the IAEA are saying Iran's ayatollahs are moving closer to their goal of building an atom bomb.

Reuters reported that Iran's president promised "good news" within days about the country's nuclear program.

The Washington Post reported that EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said Monday that the 25-nation bloc should consider sanctions against Iran, including a visa ban on nuclear officials.

The Financial Times reported that Jack Straw yesterday used his toughest language yet to rule out any military strike against Iran and that Mr Blair has shown signs of exasperation with Mr Straw's cautious approach.

AP reported that Iran has successfully enriched uranium for the first time and Ahmadinejad added that the country "will soon join the club of countries with nuclear technology."

Mehran Riazaty reported Iranian leaders were meeting with many of its neighbors the morning of Iran's nuclear announcement. The report reminds us that Iranian leaders are seeking to increase the price of oil to $100 a barrel.

IranMania reported that the Iranian Defense Minister said that Tehran is ready to sign non-aggression pacts with countries in the region.

Kuwait News Agency reported that Rafsanjani announced that the state resumed operation of 164 centrifuges in its Natanz nuclear facility for the enrichment of industrial uranium.

Reuters reported that a White House spokesman said Iran's statements on its nuclear program are "moving in the wrong direction" and if Tehran persists, the United States will discuss possible next steps with the U.N. Security Council.

Reuters reported that China's envoy to the United Nations urged a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran's nuclear program and said military and economic measures would be counter-productive.

RIA Novosti reported that a Russian expert claimed that any military strike by the United States against facilities that are part of Iran's controversial nuclear program would damage but not paralyze the Iranian economy.

Ynetnews reported that senior U.S. and Israeli specialists say that if Iran continues to develop nuclear weapons, a military operation against it is inevitable and will take place in 2007.

The Wall Street Journal reported that China's assistance to Iran is a violation of its obligations under the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and what can Washington do about it.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Iran in formal breach of a U.N. Security Council resolution and now has the know how to make a nuclear bomb.

Reuters reported that the UN is unlikely to act sooner than May on the question of Iran's nuclear ambitions.

The Washington Post reported that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that the United Nations Security Council must now take "strong steps." The permanent 5 (plus Germany) will meet next week in Moscow.

Reuters pointed out that Russia did not reiterate its past opposition to sanctions.

Downing Street released a statement from Jack Straw which said: "The latest Iranian statement further undermines international confidence in the Iranian regime and is deeply unhelpful."

Bangkok Post reported that a day after Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad declaration, Pakistan's foreign ministry spokesperson Tasneem Aslam said: "We have no comments."

Iran Focus reported that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad demanded that the world’s “lying and corrupt powers” disarm their nuclear arsenals.

Mehran Riazaty reported that Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Mohammad Najjar said Iran's enemies' reaction to Iran's acquisition of the nuclear enrichment cycle does not matter much to the Iranians.

Bloomberg reported that a U.S. State Department official said Iran may be capable of making a nuclear bomb within 16 days, once they have their planned 50,000 centrifuges online.

The Times reported that Mohamed ElBaradei delivered in person in Tehran a message from the four permanent Security Council members.

The New York Times reported that Mohamed ElBaradei's meeting with the Iranian ended Thursday night with no agreement.

CNN News reported that the CIA is doesn't know what exactly Iran's nuclear scientists up to.

The Washington Post reported that while the White House is saying "it is time for action" by the U.N. Security Council, there were no signs of consensus on what to do about it.

The Wall Street Journal reported that while Russia and China have resisted discussing even limited sanctions on Iran, U.S. officials appear ready to force the issue, challenging Moscow and Beijing to veto a resolution. U.S. officials say they don't believe either would do so.

Reuters reported that China will send a top envoy on arms control to Iran and Russia in an effort to defuse Iran's nuclear standoff with the West.

Amir Taheri, New York Post argued that as the diplomatic maneuvers to pressure Iran to rein in its nuclear ambitions continue, the key is in Moscow.

The Times argued that Iran is racing down the nuclear route before the UN can put up a roadblock.

Stratfor reported that since Iran declared on Tuesday that it has "joined the club of nuclear countries." The question is what the Iranians hoped to achieve? The answer is rooted in the things that were not said.

Stratfor examined Iran's major advance in their country's nuclear program. Here is what it means -- and does not mean.

The Times reported that Condoleezza Rice is to renew the push for punishing sanctions against Iran when world leaders meet next week and that Tehran must now face the consequences.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Ahmadinejad rebuffed a request from U.N. nuclear agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei to suspend it suranium enrichment saying: "Our answer to those who are angry about Iran achieving the full nuclear fuel cycle is just one phrase. We say: 'Be angry at us and die of this anger.' "

DEBKAfile reported that Iran is constructing a secret, large-scale enrichment plant at Neyshabour designed to run 155,000 centrifuges, enough to enrich uranium for 3-5 nuclear bombs a year.

BBC News reported that former Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres has urged the UN to take united action against Iran. "Iran is a member state of the United Nations that is threatening to destroy another member state of the United Nations."

The Telegraph reported that Iranian scientists are secretly conducting crucial nuclear research and development, using university laboratories as cover to avoid international scrutiny.

BBC News reported that many believe the Iranian regime has two choices: either it will take a tougher stance on its nuclear program, or it will become more willing to compromise.

Iranian regime incompetence.

Bloomberg reported that an Iranian ministry of energy official said Ahmadinejad's decision to abandon the country's annual switch to daylight saving time might cost the Islamic republic as much as 3 trillion rials (R2 billion) in extra energy consumption.

SeattlePI reported that Ahmadinejad is annoying predecessors by claiming the success of Iran's nuclear achievement in his name alone and that not all Iranians back his radical rhetoric.

Rooz Online disclosed details of an under reported meeting where Khamenei criticized other conservative clerks for not backing Ahmadinejad. These criticisms are indicative of the diminishing role of the traditional clerics in Islamic regime.

The Unrest inside of Iran.

IranMania reported that armed rebels have killed two army officers, and shot a top cleric in troubled Sistan-Baluchistan province in southeastern Iran.

Reuters reported that an Iranian Sunni rebel group video broadcast on Arab satellite television showed the killing by firing squad of a man identified as an Iranian Revolutionary Guard officer.

Human Rights/Freedom of the press inside of Iran.

Rooz Online reported on the latest efforts by the Iranian regime to control cell phone text messaging (SMS). SMS in Iran began just four years ago. The volume of SMS messages surpasses the seven million users of Internet in Iran.

FOX News reported that a senior administration official said a magazine news story suggesting the Bush administration will go to war to stop Iran from developing a nuclear bomb is long on hype and short on facts.

The Washington Post reported that the Bush administration is studying options for military strikes against Iran as part of a broader strategy of coercive diplomacy to pressure Tehran, but no attack appears likely in the short term.

The Times reported that Jack Straw described the idea that the White House wanted a nuclear strike as “completely nuts”.

The New York Times reported that President Bush dismissed reports that his administration is accelerating plans for a possible military strike against Iran, calling them "wild speculation."

The Guardian reported that British officers took part in a US war game aimed at preparing for a possible invasion of Iran, codenamed Hotspur 2004.

The Toronto Star reported that a U.S. strike on Iran could make Iraq look like a warm-up bout.

Support for Internal Regime Change in Iran.

Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House appropriations panel are resisting administration efforts to fund independent Iranian broadcast efforts into Iran and instead want to solely fund Voice of America and Radio Farda. But Iranian opposition groups claim VOA and Radio Farda are undermining pro-democracy efforts inside of Iran.

The New York Times reported that a newly created office of Iranian affairs in the State Department is poring over applications for a rapidly expanding program to change the political process inside Iran.

The Scotsman reported that Tony Blair will not offer military support to any strike on Iran, regardless of whether the move wins the backing of the international community, but is expected to support the call for a "Chapter 7" resolution, which could effectively isolate Iran from the international community. Blair's "favourite think-tank" argues that "The only long-term solution to Iran's problems is democracy."

Iran's Military.

Seattle PI reported that spy planes that Iran claims to have shot down over its territory were not operated by the U.S. Air Force.

Sunday Mirror reported that British Special Forces are tracking up to 40 Iranian agents who have slipped over the border into southern Iraq.

Iran Focus reported that Iraqi military forces recently discovered an Iranian-made weapons cache hidden in the city of Tikrit, north-west of Baghdad.

Iran's Troublemaking in Israel.

Mehran Riazaty reported that Ahmadinejad said that the Zionist regime is a dried rotten tree which will fall by one storm.

Yahoo Newsreported that the president of Iran again lashed out at Israel and said it was "heading toward annihilation..." and "that Palestine will be freed soon."

Yahoo News reported that Palestinian militant leaders have rallied behind Iran, vowing to resist pressure to recognize Israel and supporting the Islamic republic in its stand-off with the West over its nuclear program.

US/Iran talks on hold.

SFGate reported that U.S. Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said that planned talks with Iranian officials over Iraq-related issues would be delayed until a government is formed.

Arabic News reported that Rafsanjani said: the upcoming talks between Tehran and Washington on Iraq could, if they turn out to be successful, pave the way for talks on other issues.

Iran and the International community.

The New York Times reported that Iraqi leaders joined together to denounce President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt today for publicly asserting that Iraq was already engulfed in civil war and that Iraqi Shiites were loyal to Iran.

Reuters reported that Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has no plans to travel to Germany to support his country's World Cup campaign.

IranMania reported that Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani held talks with Saudi King Abdullah bin Abd al-Aziz. The Saudi king said that Iran-Saudi Arabia cooperation would be effective in repelling the threats and establishing permanent security in the region.

Iran Press News reported that a French investigative judge has launched an investigation into charges of bribing the Rafsanjani family by the French oil company, Total.

Iran Press News reported that while the Islamic regime wants to maintain an output of 300,000 barrels per day from Yadavaran oilfield, Sinopec, the Chinese Oil Company refuses to commit to more than 180,000 barrels.

The Sunday Times reported that Iran has formed battalions of suicide bombers to strike at British and American targets if the nation’s nuclear sites are attacked. Dr Hassan Abbasi, head of the Centre for Doctrinal Strategic Studies in the Revolutionary Guards said: “pay close attention to wily England” and vowed that “Britain’s demise is on our agenda”.

US Congress.

MosNews reported that visiting U.S. senators have said Russia’s record on democracy and the Kremlin’s stance on the Iranian nuclear crisis would influence the U.S. Congress, as it considers Moscow’s bid to join the WTO.

Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House appropriations panel are resisting administration efforts to fund independent Iranian broadcast efforts into Iran and instead want to solely fund Voice of America and Radio Farda. But Iranian opposition groups claim VOA and Radio Farda are undermining pro-democracy efforts inside of Iran.

Rep. Steve Israel, Newsdayargued that if diplomatic, economic and other tools don't work in dissuading the Iranian regime from its nuclear ambitions, reducing the amount of gas that goes into Iran may work.

Must Read reports.

Ha'aretz asked what will come more quickly on the Iranian clock: the nuclear capability or the democratic revolution?

AlJazeera reported that Iran is planning to launch a second satellite.

Iran Press News reported that a Swiss judge issued an international arrest warrant for ex-Minister of Intelligence and Security of the Islamic regime. A must read.

Mark Bowden, Atlantic Online published an excerpt from his new book: "Guests of the Ayatollah: The First Battle in America's War with Militant Islam."

MosNews reported that Iran wishes to send a man into space and Russia is not opposed to the idea.

Howard Fineman, MSNBC reported that a generation ago, the Iranian hostage crisis cost Jimmy Carter and the Democrats the White House. Now, 26 years later, another Iranian hostage crisis threatens to do the same thing to George W. Bush and the Republican Party.

The New York Times reported that one of President Bush's most senior foreign policy advisers said "The problem is that our policy has been all carrots and no sticks... and the Iranians know it."

William Kristol, The Weekly Standard sees parallels between how the west failed to deal with Hitler early on and how the west now appears headed to do the same with Iran.

Eli Lake, The New York Sun reported that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House appropriations panel are resisting administration efforts to fund independent Iranian broadcast efforts into Iran and instead want to solely fund Voice of America and Radio Farda. But Iranian opposition groups claim VOA and Radio Farda are undermining pro-democracy efforts inside of Iran.

The Los Angeles Times reported on their poll which claims that Americans are divided over the prospect of U.S. military action against Iran.

John Podhoretz, New York Postargued that the president should invite leading Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill, sooner rather than later, to Camp David for a major policy summit to create a bipartisan consensus on what to do about Iran.

Matthias Küntzel, The New Republic produced a detailed examination of Ahmadinejad's roots in the Bassij in a report: Ahmadinejad's Demons. A must read.

Los Angeles Timesreported on the messianic fervor growing among some of Iran's Shiites.

Michael Ledeen, The National Review outlined the Iranian Mullah’s view of why their confrontation approach to the international community will work.

Ilan Berman, AFPC reported that Iran considering a bill which would require American citizens to be fingerprinted and searched at all entry points into Iran while at the same time some 500 intelligence operatives from Iran are suspected to have entered Iraq over the past couple of weeks.

Amir Taheri, New York Post argued that as the diplomatic maneuvers to pressure Iran to rein in its nuclear ambitions continue, the key is in Moscow.

Kenneth R. Timmerman, NewsMax.com interviewed retired Air Force Lt. Gen. Tom McInerney who outlined what an attack on Iran would likely entail; he calls it the "Big George" scenario.

Michael Rubin, The Wall Street Journal warned that in 1953 and 1979, Washington supported an unpopular regime against the will of the Iranian people; any deal which would preserve the regime would be to make the same mistake again.

Reuel Marc Gerecht, Weekly Standardexamined, in detail, the question: to bomb, or not to bomb.

Amir Taheri, Asharq Alawsatwonders if Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahamdinejad has been inspired by a Tehrani folk tale to try and lead the Islamic Republic out of what looks like the most serious foreign policy crisis in its history.

Photos, cartoons and videos.

Iran Press News reported that Ahmadinejad's picture is now on Russian Chocolates sold in Iran. Photo.

Rooz Online published a cartoon: Ahmadinejad leading Iran over the cliff.

Robert Tait, The Guardian asked: Have you heard the one about Iran's President? Rumors in Tehran are that his ire was stirred when someone sent him a joke suggesting he didn't wash regularly enough. More jokes.

The Quote of the Week.

The Los Angeles Times reported that Ahmadinejad rebuffed a request from U.N. nuclear agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei to suspend it suranium enrichment saying:

"Our answer to those who are angry about Iran achieving the full nuclear fuel cycle is just one phrase. We say: 'Be angry at us and die of this anger.' "